Georgia LLC Name Search
To conduct a Georgia LLC name search, you’ll need to use the Georgia Corporations Division’s Business Search tool. If no matches appear, your name is likely available and you can move forward with forming your LLC. If another business is already using a similar name, you’ll need to pick something different enough to be approved under Georgia’s naming rules.
Found the perfect name? Make sure it’s available as a web domain and secure it today with GoDaddy.
Georgia LLC Name Search Quick Summary
- To conduct a Georgia LLC name search, you’ll use the Corporations Division’s online Business Search tool on the Secretary of State website.
- When searching, leave out “LLC” and use the “Contains” option instead of “Exact Match.” This will show you all registered names that could be too similar to the one you want.
- Once you’ve confirmed your name is available, you can proceed to register your LLC directly on the same site. If you aren’t ready to start your business yet, you can also reserve your name for 30 days by submitting a Name Reservation Request ($25 fee).
- Keep in mind that your name must be distinguishable from all existing entities. Minor differences like punctuation, “and” vs “&,” abbreviations, phonetic spellings, or adding “the” at the beginning won’t make your name unique under Georgia law.
- Before you commit to a name, make sure a matching domain name and social media handles are available. This will help you build a consistent brand across platforms.
Check LLC Name Availability in Georgia
1. Do a Georgia Business Name Search
You can conduct an LLC name search by using the Georgia Business Entity Search in order to confirm the availability of your desired name.
To perform the most effective search, type in the name you would like to use, excluding identifiers like “LLC”, and leave all other boxes blank. This will return all entities using the same or similar names.
If your business name is several words, you can even search just the first two words to ensure you pull up all possible similar names.
Be sure to conduct a thorough search before completing your paperwork to avoid rejection.
2. Search Available Domain Names
Another important consideration to make when selecting a business name is whether or not your desired web domain name is available.
Having a URL that clearly matches your business name is important. This seemingly small step can make a big difference in how prospective customers find your business.
The best way to determine if your desired URL is available is to search for it online using your preferred domain registry, such as GoDaddy.
3. Follow Georgia Naming Guidelines
In Georgia, the law states that the name of a corporation, limited liability company (LLC), or limited partnership (LP) must stand out from other existing names registered with the Secretary of State.
What Makes a Name Non-Distinguishable
When you’re thinking of a name for your LLC, here are some examples of what might make it “non-distinguishable” from another:
- If the only difference is the presence of “a,” “an,” or “the” at the start. For example, “The Card Store, Inc.” and “Card Store, Inc.” are considered the same.
- If the only difference is the entity type, like “The Card Store, LLC” and “The Card Store, Inc.”
- If a word in the name is abbreviated, like “Ga. Card Store, Inc.” and “Georgia Card Store, Inc.”
- If a word is phonetically spelled the same way, such as “Boyz, Inc.” and “Boys, Inc.”
Keep in mind, this is not a complete list, and the Secretary of State ultimately decides if a name is distinguishable.
Understanding “&” and “And”
The words “&” and “and” don’t make names distinguishable in Georgia. For instance, “C & D, Inc.” and “C and D, Inc.” are seen as the same. Similarly, “C and D, Inc.” or “C & D, Inc.” doesn’t stand out from “CD, Inc.” or “C.D., Inc.”
Punctuation and Plural Forms
Punctuation doesn’t make names distinguishable. As an example, “A.B.C., Inc.” is no different from “ABC, Inc.”
The same goes for the plural forms of the same word.
Suffixes and Variations
Adding a suffix to a word or any other derivative doesn’t make names distinguishable.
Guidelines for Restricted Names
Certain terms may be restricted, require consent, or require additional information before they can be used in an entity name.
Words Controlled by Laws
The use of some words is governed by laws that are not administered by the Secretary of State. If you wish to use such words, you should submit a letter of approval from the appropriate agency along with the filing.
Insurance and Banking Words
Words related to banking need written approval from the Department of Banking and Finance. These include: “bank,” “banc,” “banque,” “banker,” “banking company,” “banking house,” “bancorp,” “bankruptcy,” “bancshares,” “bankshares,” “credit union,” “savings & loan,” “trust,” “trust company,” “trusted,” or “trusting.”
Education Words
If you want to use “college” or “university” in your entity name, you will need the written approval of the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission.
As you prepare to choose your LLC name, remember to consider these guidelines to ensure your choice is distinguishable and adheres to the state’s requirements.
For a complete list of naming rules in Georgia, you can read the Georgia naming guidelines.
Not sure what to name your business? Check out our LLC Name Generator.
Registering Your Business Name
When the time comes to establish your Georgia LLC, you will be required to fill out the Georgia Articles of Organization document. This is where you’ll state your chosen business name, thereby registering it. Georgia is one state that does not necessitate reserving a name beforehand.
For those who are still in the planning stages, reserving the business name can be a proactive move to ensure it remains available. We’ll guide you through both processes.
Register Your Georgia LLC
The process to register your business name in Georgia is simple and straightforward. You just need to complete and submit the Georgia Articles of Organization. This document enables you to officially stake your claim on your business name and initiate your Georgia LLC. It’s a crucial step in building the foundation of your new venture.
Detailed instructions, including information on the required state filing fee, can be found on the form itself.
Form an LLC
If you’ve verified your domain name and are good to go, we recommend using a professional LLC formation service like ZenBusiness ($0+ State Fees).
Reserve Your Georgia Business Entity Name
The Georgia Secretary of State’s Corporations Division handles all LLC naming questions and requests. Business names can be reserved for 30 days. If you have yet to form your business entity using the reserved name when the business name reservation expires, there is no renewal process, but you can reserve the name again.
To reserve a business name, you must file an application online or by mail. When reserving your entity name, you will have to pay a filing fee. Checks must be made out to the “Georgia Secretary of State.” Note that to reserve a name online, you will need to create an account with the Georgia Corporations Division.
After choosing a name for your LLC, take the next step and create a unique logo with our Free Logo Generator.
Georgia Business Name Reservation
OPTION 1: File Online with Georgia’s Secretary of State
– OR –
OPTION 2: File by Mail
Download FormFee: $25 (online) or $35 (by mail)
Mail to:
Office of Secretary of State
Corporations Division
Name Reservation Request
2 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. SE
Suite 313 West Tower
Atlanta, Georgia, 30334
Other Considerations
While reserving the name for your Georgia LLC is straightforward, there are some other things you should think about when choosing the best name for your business. You may want to do a Trademark and Social Media search for your name to see if it’s available for use across the internet. This will help ensure you have full, unrestricted use of your business name.
Trademark Search
Conducting a trademark search of your business name and associated slogans or logos before registering can help prevent costly litigation in the future. During your search, you may discover that another entity has trademarked your business name. However, this does not automatically disqualify you from using it.
However, it is important to know who is using the name, what industry they operate in, and where they are located to be sure you do not inadvertently infringe upon anyone’s intellectual property rights.
To complete this step:
- Search Georgia’s trademark records to see if your business name or associated slogans, logos, or others are in use by another business in your state.
- Search the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s electronic records to find any federally registered trademarks associated with your business name.
Social Media Search
Just as important, or more so, than finding a domain name that fits your business is ensuring that your business name is available for use across social media platforms. To do this, you can search for your business name on each major site, or use a tool such as Namecheckerr to search across all platforms at once.
Bottom Line
According to recent data from the Georgia Secretary of State, there are now over 250,000 new business formations in the state annually.
With this record-breaking volume, finding a distinguishable name for your Georgia LLC is more competitive than ever. Even so, don’t rush the process or settle for the first available name you find. Take the time to choose something memorable that reflects your brand, works as a domain, and won’t limit you as your business grows.
FAQs
You can check for the availability of your desired LLC name with the Georgia Corporations Division by conducting a Georgia entity search on the Georgia Secretary of State’s website. Navigate to their Business Search page and enter your proposed business name. If no existing business matches your query, your name is likely available.
No, Georgia business entities do not have to reserve an LLC name before registering it. However, you have the option to do so if you’re not ready to officially form your Georgia company but want to ensure your chosen name remains available after doing a Georgia business search.
In Georgia, you can reserve your desired LLC name for 30 days. If you’re still not ready to form your LLC by the time the reservation expires, you can renew the reservation 30 days prior to its expiry.
Your Georgia LLC name must include the words “Limited Liability Company” or one of its abbreviations like “LLC” or “L.L.C.” It should not contain any words or phrases that could confuse your LLC with a government agency (like FBI or Treasury), and it must be distinct from other existing businesses registered in Georgia.
Yes, you can register your LLC name in Georgia online by filling out the Georgia Articles of Organization form and submitting it electronically. This document allows you to officially claim your business name and begin the process of establishing your LLC. The form can be found on the Georgia Secretary of State’s website.
If a business was voluntarily dissolved, the name is generally available for use immediately. That said, if a business was administratively dissolved (usually for failing to file an annual registration), the name is protected for 5 years from the date of dissolution. You cannot use that name unless the original company gives written consent.
No. The Georgia Secretary of State’s search only checks against other businesses registered in Georgia. It does not check the federal trademark database. To be safe, we recommend performing a federal trademark search before filing to make sure your name doesn’t infringe on a national brand.
No. Georgia does not require you to reserve a name before filing your LLC Articles of Organization. You would typically only reserve a name if you have found one you like but aren’t ready to form your business yet.